Talk:Nachman Bulman

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However, in terms of religious ideology Rabbi Bulman chose to follow and be identified with Agudath Israel of America, one of Haredi Judaism's largest movements.

While Agudah would no doubt like to think so, this is, I think, an oversimplification, if not an outright distortion; Rabbi Bulman didn't fit cleanly into any established ideological camp. Can we get a more nuanced description? Shmuel 19:01, 15 July 2005 (UTC)[reply]

{{sofixit}} JFW | T@lk 10:52, 17 July 2005 (UTC)[reply]

I would if I knew enough. I had only a few conversations with him, in which he pointedly described his bouncing all over the Orthodox spectrum without ever settling down permanently in one group, so I know just enough to be able to flag what rings false. On the other hand, I wasn't a student of his and wouldn't be able to provide a proper description of his personal approach and affiliations. Shmuel 05:57, 10 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

I would never presume to know what Rav Bulman z"l was thinking, and he was certainly not a follower. But, I remember that he associated himself with Ger, dressed like a Gerrer Hasid and when he wore a hat on Shabbos or other yamei tovim, he wore his spodik. (Word around Ohr Somayach was that he didn't wear it in front of the students because he didn't want some crazy baal teshuvah to go out and buy himself a $1000 spodik.) I remember when everyone was scared to say anything against smoking out of respect for Rav Kaduri and Dayan Fischer, he gave a long fire and brimstone speech about it calling smokers all kinds of names. My favorite line was when he said, "People accuse us of brain washing their kids and they don't take one minute to realize some brains need washing. They are filthy!" That is from memory (it was Shabbos) but it is pretty close to exactly what he said. I miss him. 09:09, 22 February 2006 (UTC)

Although he also attended OU Conventions and wrote in Jewish Action, Rabbi Bulman definitely identified with the Aguda movement, so your request above for a "more nuanced" description is not so relevant. However, whoever wrote that he "dressed like a Gerer Chassid & wore a spodik" did not know him for very long. I knew him for a few decades, he only put on a long coat when he made Aliya, and the spodik came only much later, in Neve Yaakov if I remember correctly. I therefore edited the article to reflect this. He wore a rabbinic homburg hat for most of the time that I knew him. Yehi zichro baruch! Demblin 14:22, 3 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]